Natural History of Coral Reefs

Vocabulary flashcards related to the natural history and identification of various coral species.

Acropora palmata

Commonly called Elkhorn, a large branching coral found in shallow Caribbean waters, affected by white band disease in the 1980s.

Acropora cervicornis

A large branching coral known as staghorn coral, now uncommon, with round cross-section branches that can exceed 1 m in length.

Diploria labyrinthiformis

A massive brain coral characterized by its double-valley structure and long meandroid valleys.

Pseudodiploria strigosa

Similar to Diploria labyrinthiformis, but features long meandering valleys and colonies that are smoothly domed.

Agaricia agaricites

Thin leafy coral with a mixture of encrusting sheets and thick leaves; begins growth as encrusting plates.

Dendrogyra cylindrus

Distinctive massive brain coral with tall columns; young colonies encrust with incipient columns.

Montastrea cavernosa

Massive star coral with small conical colonies, larger calices, and a wide range of colors.

Orbicella annularis

Massive star coral with loosely-packed needles and small calices, known for its uniform color.

Phylum Porifera

Group of sessile organisms known as sponges characterized by a porous body through which water filters nutrients.

Phylum Mollusca

A diverse group including bivalves, snails, and nautiloids with soft bodies protected by a calcium-containing shell.

Colpophyllia natans

A massive brain coral that can exceed 1 meter in size, marked by broad valleys and domed colonies.

Dichocoenia stokesii

Small massive brain coral with oval corallites protruding above the surface.

Madracis mirabilis

Finger coral composed of branching with densely packed fingers, known for its fuzzy appearance from extended polyps.

Meandrina meandrites

Classic brain coral forming hemispheres typically smaller than 1 meter, with a visible ribbon-like collumella.

Millepora complanata

Fire coral characterized by upward projecting plate-like branches from an inconspicuous encrusting base.

Mycetophyllia lamarckiana

Thick leafy coral with meandroid characteristics, usually light in color and growing up to 30 cm in diameter.

Porites astreoides

Massive star coral forming small lumps or large plates, widespread in shallow and well-lit water.

Porites porites

Finger coral with a more sprawling appearance, branches typically curving or projecting downwards.

Siderasterea siderea

Massive star coral that can exceed 1 meter across, smooth domes with large corallites.

Stephanocoenia intersepta

Massive star coral with flattened hemispherical colonies and small corallites that rapidly retract when touched.